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When Christmas isn't Joyful

The holidays don't deliver good cheer to everyone. While some of us decorate, carol, and shop, others hide and countdown the end of the season, sometimes second by second.

Whether tragedy, loneliness, illness, or stress keeps Christmas from bringing joy, take comfort in knowing you aren't alone. The holidays are difficult for a lot of people.

Are you dealing with a first Christmas without a loved one? Without a job? Without hope? Take comfort in the One who loves you most. Put your heart in His hands and trust Him to walk you through.

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God" (2 Corinthians 1:3-4 NIV).

The worst thing for holiday blues? Isolation. Locking yourself away, hiding in bed, and cutting yourself off from the rest of the world compounds depression.

Even though reaching out to someone else is hard when we are exhausted by grief or stress, doing for others provides the best way to move beyond our own struggles. Blessing another person carries its own joy--a different kind of joy than baking and wrapping and donning a Santa sweater.

If you are inching through the holidays this year, praying for January 2nd, step out of your circle of despair and do one nice thing for someone else. Here are ten easy ideas.